February 28, 2003 by Sherman Goldenberg · Comments Off on TL Directory Revamps Rating System

The TL Directory, the most widely recognized and used campground rating system in the country, recently adjusted its campground ratings system to address the changing needs of RVers.
The RV industry is experiencing a trend toward the purchase of larger rigs, more motorhomes, more Internet usage and other 21st century amenities at campgrounds. To reflect these changes and needs of the consumers it serves, the TL Directory rating system is adding criteria to its current three-part rating system. The... Read more

Gasoline cost $2 or more a gallon in some parts of the country and war against Iraq appeared inevitable, but despite it all, dealers had an upbeat attitude during the Coast Distribution System Inc. show in Las Vegas Feb. 11-12, according to Dave Berger, Coast’s executive vice president.
“If you get caught up in the doom and gloom, your business will not be successful,” Berger said. “If you are not ready (with an adequate amount of inventory) in March, you won’t be ready in July.”
Around... Read more

February 28, 2003 by Sherman Goldenberg · Comments Off on Second Good Sam VIP Safety Rally a Success

The second annual Good Sam VIP RV Safety Rally was held in Palm Springs, Calif., in late January.
The event was co-sponsored by the Good Sam Club’s parent company, Affinity Group Inc., Ventura, Calif., and GMAC Insurance, with RVs supplied by National RV Inc., Perris, Calif.
The rally plays a big part in the VIP program’s ongoing efforts to bring the best coverage rates to customers by making members safer drivers, according to GMAC Insurance representative Gail Peters.
Participants were given... Read more

February 28, 2003 by Sherman Goldenberg · Comments Off on Club Fleetwood International Rally Set

Club Fleetwood, the organization serving the owners of RVs built by Fleetwood Enterprieses Inc., will hold its first International Rally on July 7-11 at the Missouri State Fairgrounds in Sedalia, Mo.
The rally will include: four nights of camping with full hookups, two catered dinners, informative seminars, vendor displays, display units, a pancake breakfast and a souvenir packet.
Attendees can take a stroll in Sedalia’s historic downtown area or tour Bothwell Lodge, an authentic Missouri “castle.”... Read more

February 27, 2003 by Sherman Goldenberg · Comments Off on “Shockingly” Good Sales at Utah RV Show

Sales were so good at last weekend’s consumer RV show in suburban Salt Lake City, Utah, that one dealer interviewed by the Salt Lake Tribune described it as “shocking.”
“I’ve had a few people mention the price of fuel. I’ve had no one mention the threat of war,” Mark Hansen, a salesman with Sierra RV of Sunset, told the Tribune. “I’m shocked. We’ve had a really good show.”
According to Neil Citte, owner of the Ray Citte dealership in Roy, Utah who exhibited at the 38th annual... Read more

Recreation Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA) President Dave Humphreys recently joined the board of directors of the Sport Utility Owners of America , according to Bill Brouse, founder of the SUVOA.
Derrick Crandall, president of the American Recreation Coalition (ARC), of which the RVIA is a member, also has joined the SUVOA board.
Additionally, RV parks consultant Dave Gorin, former head of the National Association of RV Parks & Campgrounds (ARVC), has been invited to join the board, Brouse... Read more

February 27, 2003 by Sherman Goldenberg · Comments Off on RV Advocates Oppose Washington State Tax

Everybody should chip in to save Washington’s financially challenged state park system, not just RV owners. That’s the contention of just about every major RV club and industry association regarding an effort by legislators in the Evergreen State to compensate for state park budgetary shortfalls by increasing taxes for RV owners.
No one appears to doubt Washington parks need cash. According to the Tacoma Tribune, the parks need about $340 million worth of maintenance work and improvements. The... Read more

February 27, 2003 by Sherman Goldenberg · Comments Off on Thor’s Net Income Doubles for quarter

Thor Industries Inc., the leading producer of travel trailers and fifth-wheels, reports its net income during the three months ended Jan. 31 doubled to $15.4 million, compared with $7.7 million a year earlier.
Thor’s results for the recently completed November-through-January is comparable with the same period a year earlier, because Thor finalized its acquisition of Keystone RV Co. on Nov. 9, 2001.
The New York Stock Exchange-listed company’s second-fiscal-quarter sales revenue increased 23%... Read more

February 26, 2003 by Sherman Goldenberg · Comments Off on High Gas Price Impact Negligible for Now

The sharp rise in gasoline and diesel fuel prices occurring earlier this month have not had much of an impact on RV sales at least for now, according to several West Coast manufacturers.
“Obviously, what’s going on overseas is on people’s minds, but I can’t say it’s brought us to a stop,” said John Sammut, western region sales director for Fleetwood’s motorhome division in Riverside, Calif. “Our business is very good. Our retail activity and our actual retail sales are better... Read more

February 26, 2003 by Sherman Goldenberg · Comments Off on RV Rally Park Sought for East Texas

The east Texas town of Nacogdoches is pursuing the RV rally business in a big way as a potential revenue source for the historic community, according to an official at Nacogdoches-based highline motorcoach manufacturer Foretravel Inc.
“The RV industry has a real need for rally parks,” said Paul Tinkle, who manages the Foretravel Motorcade Club in addition to serving on a Nacogdoches task force that is pursuing the 200-space rally park.
He said the city, which would own the park, already dedicated... Read more

February 26, 2003 by Sherman Goldenberg · Comments Off on Detroit Dealers Pleased with Early ‘03 Sales

RV dealers in the Detroit area are pleased with their sales volume so far this year, according to the Macomb Daily newspaper.
“Our first two shows have been better than any in the last three years,” said Bill Ladd, general sales manager at Roseville RV in Chesterfield Township.
“Normally, we’d generate sales leads on 10 to15 (Fleetwood Enterprises Inc.) Wilderness units, but this year at the (Pontiac) Silverdome show we made deals on 18 Wilderness units and 15 Pioneers.”
Ladd said part... Read more

February 26, 2003 by Sherman Goldenberg · Comments Off on Consumers Think Gas Prices Will Come Down

Diesel fuel prices are at an all-time record high and gasoline prices are near a record high, but most people don’t expect it to last long, according to one industry analyst.
Consumers “do not think gas prices will remain high for very long,” said to Dr. Richard Curtin director of the University of Michigan’s Survey Research Center and chief economic consultant to the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA).
Diesel fuel prices remained at an all-time high today, according to... Read more

February 25, 2003 by Sherman Goldenberg · Comments Off on Consumers Worried About War Possibility

Attendance has been strong at recent RV retail shows but consumers, because they are worried about the U.S. possibly going to war, are reluctant to buy right now, according to the heads of several RV manufacturing companies who were interviewed recently.
Some manufacturers have responded to the slowing retail demand by reducing their production schedules to four-day work weeks. Monaco Coach Corp. and the Keystone RV Co. subsidiary of Thor Industries Inc. reportedly are among that group.
However,... Read more

RV industry supplier firms are beginning to feel the retail market slowdown that is occurring because of consumer worries about the economic impact of a war against Iraq.
“Our orders are soft,” said Carl Pfalzgraf, vice president of sales at the Atwood Mobile Products subsidiary of DURA Automotive Systems Inc. “I’ve talked to some other suppliers. Some of them are a little better and some are a little worse than we are.”
Atwood, based in Rockford, Ill., now is forecasting total RV production... Read more

Various Arizona tourism-oriented associations – the campground sector included – have launched a letter-writing campaign in an effort to prevent the state legislature from eliminating the Arizona Office of Tourism.
“They want to eliminate the office of tourism and not even have it as a functioning organization in the state of Arizona, which is just nuts,” said Joanne Michelson, president of the Arizona Travel Parks Association (ATPA).
ATPA and the other associations, including those... Read more